1 Thessalonians 5:9 God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake w...

5:9 MSG

逐节对照

The Message - God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
新标点和合本 - 因为　神不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们藉着我们主耶稣基督得救。
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 因为上帝不是预定我们受惩罚，而是预定我们藉着我们的主耶稣基督得救。
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 因为　神不是预定我们受惩罚，而是预定我们藉着我们的主耶稣基督得救。
当代译本 - 因为上帝不是预定我们受惩罚，而是预定我们靠着主耶稣基督得救。
圣经新译本 - 因为　神不是定意要我们受刑罚（“刑罚”原文作“忿怒”），而是要我们藉着我们的主耶稣基督得着救恩。
中文标准译本 - 因为神不是预定我们到震怒里面，而是预定我们藉着我们的主耶稣基督获得救恩。
现代标点和合本 - 因为神不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们藉着我们主耶稣基督得救。
和合本（拼音版） - 因为上帝不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们藉着我们主耶稣基督得救。
New International Version - For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
New International Reader's Version - God didn’t choose us to receive his anger. He chose us to receive salvation because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done.
English Standard Version - For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
New Living Translation - For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.
Christian Standard Bible - For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
New American Standard Bible - For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
New King James Version - For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Amplified Bible - For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
American Standard Version - For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
King James Version - For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
New English Translation - For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
World English Bible - For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
新標點和合本 - 因為神不是預定我們受刑，乃是預定我們藉着我們主耶穌基督得救。
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 因為上帝不是預定我們受懲罰，而是預定我們藉着我們的主耶穌基督得救。
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 因為　神不是預定我們受懲罰，而是預定我們藉着我們的主耶穌基督得救。
當代譯本 - 因為上帝不是預定我們受懲罰，而是預定我們靠著主耶穌基督得救。
聖經新譯本 - 因為　神不是定意要我們受刑罰（“刑罰”原文作“忿怒”），而是要我們藉著我們的主耶穌基督得著救恩。
呂振中譯本 - 因為上帝並不是派定我們去受他的義怒的，乃是派定我們、藉着我們的主耶穌基督、得拯救以為業的。
中文標準譯本 - 因為神不是預定我們到震怒裡面，而是預定我們藉著我們的主耶穌基督獲得救恩。
現代標點和合本 - 因為神不是預定我們受刑，乃是預定我們藉著我們主耶穌基督得救。
文理和合譯本 - 上帝預定我儕、非致於怒、乃由我主耶穌基督而得救、
文理委辦譯本 - 蓋上帝簡我、不獲譴怒、賴吾主耶穌基督得救、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 蓋天主非預定我儕遭怒、乃預定我儕賴主耶穌基督而得救、
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 蓋天主之恩召、非欲吾人嬰其震怒、乃欲吾人因吾主耶穌基督而沾溉救恩。
Nueva Versión Internacional - pues Dios no nos destinó a sufrir el castigo, sino a recibir la salvación por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.
현대인의 성경 - 하나님이 우리를 택하신 것은 벌하시기 위한 것이 아니라 우리 주 예수 그리스도를 통해 우리가 구원을 얻도록 하기 위한 것입니다.
Новый Русский Перевод - Ведь Бог предназначил нас не для гнева, а для спасения, которое мы получаем через Господа нашего Иисуса Христа.
Восточный перевод - Ведь Всевышний предназначил нас не для гнева, а для спасения, которое мы получаем через Повелителя нашего Ису Масиха.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Ведь Аллах предназначил нас не для гнева, а для спасения, которое мы получаем через Повелителя нашего Ису аль-Масиха.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Ведь Всевышний предназначил нас не для гнева, а для спасения, которое мы получаем через Повелителя нашего Исо Масеха.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Car Dieu ne nous a pas destinés à connaître sa colère, mais à posséder le salut par notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ :
リビングバイブル - 神は、怒りを向けるために私たちをお選びになったのではなく、主イエス・キリストによって救うために選んでくださったのです。
Nestle Aland 28 - ὅτι οὐκ ἔθετο ἡμᾶς ὁ θεὸς εἰς ὀργὴν ἀλλ’ εἰς περιποίησιν σωτηρίας διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - ὅτι οὐκ ἔθετο ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς εἰς ὀργὴν, ἀλλὰ εἰς περιποίησιν σωτηρίας διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
Nova Versão Internacional - Porque Deus não nos destinou para a ira, mas para recebermos a salvação por meio de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo.
Hoffnung für alle - Denn Gott hat uns nicht für den Zorn und das Gericht bestimmt, sondern zur Rettung durch unseren Herrn Jesus Christus.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Vì Đức Chúa Trời chẳng chọn chúng ta để đoán phạt, nhưng để cứu rỗi do công lao Chúa Cứu Thế Giê-xu.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - เพราะพระเจ้าไม่ได้ทรงกำหนดให้เราเผชิญพระพิโรธ แต่ทรงให้รับความรอดโดยทางองค์พระเยซูคริสต์เจ้าของเรา
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ด้วยว่า พระเจ้าไม่ได้กำหนดให้เรารับทุกข์จากการลงโทษ แต่ให้เราได้รับความรอดพ้นโดยผ่านพระเยซูคริสต์ องค์พระผู้เป็นเจ้าของเรา

交叉引用

2 Timothy 2:19 - Meanwhile, God’s firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones: god knows who belongs to him. steer clear of evil, all you who name god as god.
2 Timothy 2:20 - In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.
2 Peter 1:1 - I, Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God’s straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 - Meanwhile, we’ve got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God! God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God’s original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth. This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Romans 11:30 - There was a time not so long ago when you were on the outs with God. But then the Jews slammed the door on him and things opened up for you. Now they are on the outs. But with the door held wide open for you, they have a way back in. In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and welcome us back in.
Ezekiel 38:10 - “‘Message of God, the Master: At that time you’ll start thinking things over and cook up an evil plot. You’ll say, “I’m going to invade a country without defenses, attack an unsuspecting, carefree people going about their business—no gates to their cities, no locks on their doors. And I’m going to plunder the place, march right in and clean them out, this rebuilt country risen from the ashes, these returned exiles and their booming economy centered down at the navel of the earth.”
Ezekiel 38:13 - “‘Sheba and Dedan and Tarshish, traders all out to make a fast buck, will say, “So! You’ve opened a new market for plunder! You’ve brought in your troops to get rich quick!”’
Ezekiel 38:14 - “Therefore, son of man, prophesy! Tell Gog, ‘A Message from God, the Master: When my people Israel are established securely, will you make your move? Will you come down out of the far north, you and that mob of armies, charging out on your horses like a tidal wave across the land, and invade my people Israel, covering the country like a cloud? When the time’s ripe, I’ll unleash you against my land in such a way that the nations will recognize me, realize that through you, Gog, in full view of the nations, I am putting my holiness on display.
Ezekiel 38:17 - “‘A Message of God, the Master: Years ago when I spoke through my servants, the prophets of Israel, wasn’t it you I was talking about? Year after year they prophesied that I would bring you against them. And when the day comes, Gog, you will attack that land of Israel. Decree of God, the Master. My raging anger will erupt. Fueled by blazing jealousy, I tell you that then there will be an earthquake that rocks the land of Israel. Fish and birds and wild animals—even ants and beetles!—and every human being will tremble and shake before me. Mountains will disintegrate, terraces will crumble. I’ll order all-out war against you, Gog—Decree of God, the Master—Gog killing Gog on all the mountains of Israel. I’ll deluge Gog with judgment: disease and massacre, torrential rain and hail, volcanic lava pouring down on you and your mobs of troops and people.
Proverbs 16:4 - God made everything with a place and purpose; even the wicked are included—but for judgment.
Romans 9:14 - Is that grounds for complaining that God is unfair? Not so fast, please. God told Moses, “I’m in charge of mercy. I’m in charge of compassion.” Compassion doesn’t originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God’s mercy. The same point was made when God said to Pharaoh, “I picked you as a bit player in this drama of my salvation power.” All we’re saying is that God has the first word, initiating the action in which we play our part for better or worse.
Romans 9:19 - Are you going to object, “So how can God blame us for anything since he’s in charge of everything? If the big decisions are already made, what say do we have in it?”
Romans 9:20 - Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?” Isn’t it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans? If God needs one style of pottery especially designed to show his angry displeasure and another style carefully crafted to show his glorious goodness, isn’t that all right? Either or both happens to Jews, but it also happens to the other people. Hosea put it well: I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved. In the place where they yelled out, “You’re nobody!” they’re calling you “God’s living children.” Isaiah maintained this same emphasis: If each grain of sand on the seashore were numbered and the sum labeled “chosen of God,” They’d be numbers still, not names; salvation comes by personal selection. God doesn’t count us; he calls us by name. Arithmetic is not his focus. Isaiah had looked ahead and spoken the truth: If our powerful God had not provided us a legacy of living children, We would have ended up like ghost towns, like Sodom and Gomorrah. How can we sum this up? All those people who didn’t seem interested in what God was doing actually embraced what God was doing as he straightened out their lives. And Israel, who seemed so interested in reading and talking about what God was doing, missed it. How could they miss it? Because instead of trusting God, they took over. They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing. They were so absorbed in their “God projects” that they didn’t notice God right in front of them, like a huge rock in the middle of the road. And so they stumbled into him and went sprawling. Isaiah (again!) gives us the metaphor for pulling this together: Careful! I’ve put a huge stone on the road to Mount Zion, a stone you can’t get around. But the stone is me! If you’re looking for me, you’ll find me on the way, not in the way.
1 Thessalonians 3:3 - Not that the troubles should come as any surprise to you. You’ve always known that we’re in for this kind of thing. It’s part of our calling. When we were with you, we made it quite clear that there was trouble ahead. And now that it’s happened, you know what it’s like. That’s why I couldn’t quit worrying; I had to know for myself how you were doing in the faith. I didn’t want the Tempter getting to you and tearing down everything we had built up together.
Acts 13:48 - When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe their good fortune. All who were marked out for real life put their trust in God—they honored God’s Word by receiving that life. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region.
Romans 11:7 - And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn’t succeed. The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The “self-interest Israel” became thick-skinned toward God. Moses and Isaiah both commented on this: Fed up with their quarrelsome, self-centered ways, God blurred their eyes and dulled their ears, Shut them in on themselves in a hall of mirrors, and they’re there to this day. David was upset about the same thing: I hope they get sick eating self-serving meals, break a leg walking their self-serving ways. I hope they go blind staring in their mirrors, get ulcers from playing at god.

逐节对照

交叉引用

The Message - God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
新标点和合本 - 因为　神不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们藉着我们主耶稣基督得救。
和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 因为上帝不是预定我们受惩罚，而是预定我们藉着我们的主耶稣基督得救。
和合本2010（神版-简体） - 因为　神不是预定我们受惩罚，而是预定我们藉着我们的主耶稣基督得救。
当代译本 - 因为上帝不是预定我们受惩罚，而是预定我们靠着主耶稣基督得救。
圣经新译本 - 因为　神不是定意要我们受刑罚（“刑罚”原文作“忿怒”），而是要我们藉着我们的主耶稣基督得着救恩。
中文标准译本 - 因为神不是预定我们到震怒里面，而是预定我们藉着我们的主耶稣基督获得救恩。
现代标点和合本 - 因为神不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们藉着我们主耶稣基督得救。
和合本（拼音版） - 因为上帝不是预定我们受刑，乃是预定我们藉着我们主耶稣基督得救。
New International Version - For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
New International Reader's Version - God didn’t choose us to receive his anger. He chose us to receive salvation because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done.
English Standard Version - For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
New Living Translation - For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.
Christian Standard Bible - For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
New American Standard Bible - For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
New King James Version - For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Amplified Bible - For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
American Standard Version - For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
King James Version - For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
New English Translation - For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
World English Bible - For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
新標點和合本 - 因為神不是預定我們受刑，乃是預定我們藉着我們主耶穌基督得救。
和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 因為上帝不是預定我們受懲罰，而是預定我們藉着我們的主耶穌基督得救。
和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 因為　神不是預定我們受懲罰，而是預定我們藉着我們的主耶穌基督得救。
當代譯本 - 因為上帝不是預定我們受懲罰，而是預定我們靠著主耶穌基督得救。
聖經新譯本 - 因為　神不是定意要我們受刑罰（“刑罰”原文作“忿怒”），而是要我們藉著我們的主耶穌基督得著救恩。
呂振中譯本 - 因為上帝並不是派定我們去受他的義怒的，乃是派定我們、藉着我們的主耶穌基督、得拯救以為業的。
中文標準譯本 - 因為神不是預定我們到震怒裡面，而是預定我們藉著我們的主耶穌基督獲得救恩。
現代標點和合本 - 因為神不是預定我們受刑，乃是預定我們藉著我們主耶穌基督得救。
文理和合譯本 - 上帝預定我儕、非致於怒、乃由我主耶穌基督而得救、
文理委辦譯本 - 蓋上帝簡我、不獲譴怒、賴吾主耶穌基督得救、
施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 蓋天主非預定我儕遭怒、乃預定我儕賴主耶穌基督而得救、
吳經熊文理聖詠與新經全集 - 蓋天主之恩召、非欲吾人嬰其震怒、乃欲吾人因吾主耶穌基督而沾溉救恩。
Nueva Versión Internacional - pues Dios no nos destinó a sufrir el castigo, sino a recibir la salvación por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.
현대인의 성경 - 하나님이 우리를 택하신 것은 벌하시기 위한 것이 아니라 우리 주 예수 그리스도를 통해 우리가 구원을 얻도록 하기 위한 것입니다.
Новый Русский Перевод - Ведь Бог предназначил нас не для гнева, а для спасения, которое мы получаем через Господа нашего Иисуса Христа.
Восточный перевод - Ведь Всевышний предназначил нас не для гнева, а для спасения, которое мы получаем через Повелителя нашего Ису Масиха.
Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - Ведь Аллах предназначил нас не для гнева, а для спасения, которое мы получаем через Повелителя нашего Ису аль-Масиха.
Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - Ведь Всевышний предназначил нас не для гнева, а для спасения, которое мы получаем через Повелителя нашего Исо Масеха.
La Bible du Semeur 2015 - Car Dieu ne nous a pas destinés à connaître sa colère, mais à posséder le salut par notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ :
リビングバイブル - 神は、怒りを向けるために私たちをお選びになったのではなく、主イエス・キリストによって救うために選んでくださったのです。
Nestle Aland 28 - ὅτι οὐκ ἔθετο ἡμᾶς ὁ θεὸς εἰς ὀργὴν ἀλλ’ εἰς περιποίησιν σωτηρίας διὰ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
unfoldingWord® Greek New Testament - ὅτι οὐκ ἔθετο ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς εἰς ὀργὴν, ἀλλὰ εἰς περιποίησιν σωτηρίας διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ,
Nova Versão Internacional - Porque Deus não nos destinou para a ira, mas para recebermos a salvação por meio de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo.
Hoffnung für alle - Denn Gott hat uns nicht für den Zorn und das Gericht bestimmt, sondern zur Rettung durch unseren Herrn Jesus Christus.
Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Vì Đức Chúa Trời chẳng chọn chúng ta để đoán phạt, nhưng để cứu rỗi do công lao Chúa Cứu Thế Giê-xu.
พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - เพราะพระเจ้าไม่ได้ทรงกำหนดให้เราเผชิญพระพิโรธ แต่ทรงให้รับความรอดโดยทางองค์พระเยซูคริสต์เจ้าของเรา
พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ด้วยว่า พระเจ้าไม่ได้กำหนดให้เรารับทุกข์จากการลงโทษ แต่ให้เราได้รับความรอดพ้นโดยผ่านพระเยซูคริสต์ องค์พระผู้เป็นเจ้าของเรา

2 Timothy 2:19 - Meanwhile, God’s firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones: god knows who belongs to him. steer clear of evil, all you who name god as god.
2 Timothy 2:20 - In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.
2 Peter 1:1 - I, Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God’s straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 - Meanwhile, we’ve got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God! God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God’s original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth. This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Romans 11:30 - There was a time not so long ago when you were on the outs with God. But then the Jews slammed the door on him and things opened up for you. Now they are on the outs. But with the door held wide open for you, they have a way back in. In one way or another, God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and welcome us back in.
Ezekiel 38:10 - “‘Message of God, the Master: At that time you’ll start thinking things over and cook up an evil plot. You’ll say, “I’m going to invade a country without defenses, attack an unsuspecting, carefree people going about their business—no gates to their cities, no locks on their doors. And I’m going to plunder the place, march right in and clean them out, this rebuilt country risen from the ashes, these returned exiles and their booming economy centered down at the navel of the earth.”
Ezekiel 38:13 - “‘Sheba and Dedan and Tarshish, traders all out to make a fast buck, will say, “So! You’ve opened a new market for plunder! You’ve brought in your troops to get rich quick!”’
Ezekiel 38:14 - “Therefore, son of man, prophesy! Tell Gog, ‘A Message from God, the Master: When my people Israel are established securely, will you make your move? Will you come down out of the far north, you and that mob of armies, charging out on your horses like a tidal wave across the land, and invade my people Israel, covering the country like a cloud? When the time’s ripe, I’ll unleash you against my land in such a way that the nations will recognize me, realize that through you, Gog, in full view of the nations, I am putting my holiness on display.
Ezekiel 38:17 - “‘A Message of God, the Master: Years ago when I spoke through my servants, the prophets of Israel, wasn’t it you I was talking about? Year after year they prophesied that I would bring you against them. And when the day comes, Gog, you will attack that land of Israel. Decree of God, the Master. My raging anger will erupt. Fueled by blazing jealousy, I tell you that then there will be an earthquake that rocks the land of Israel. Fish and birds and wild animals—even ants and beetles!—and every human being will tremble and shake before me. Mountains will disintegrate, terraces will crumble. I’ll order all-out war against you, Gog—Decree of God, the Master—Gog killing Gog on all the mountains of Israel. I’ll deluge Gog with judgment: disease and massacre, torrential rain and hail, volcanic lava pouring down on you and your mobs of troops and people.
Proverbs 16:4 - God made everything with a place and purpose; even the wicked are included—but for judgment.
Romans 9:14 - Is that grounds for complaining that God is unfair? Not so fast, please. God told Moses, “I’m in charge of mercy. I’m in charge of compassion.” Compassion doesn’t originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God’s mercy. The same point was made when God said to Pharaoh, “I picked you as a bit player in this drama of my salvation power.” All we’re saying is that God has the first word, initiating the action in which we play our part for better or worse.
Romans 9:19 - Are you going to object, “So how can God blame us for anything since he’s in charge of everything? If the big decisions are already made, what say do we have in it?”
Romans 9:20 - Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?” Isn’t it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans? If God needs one style of pottery especially designed to show his angry displeasure and another style carefully crafted to show his glorious goodness, isn’t that all right? Either or both happens to Jews, but it also happens to the other people. Hosea put it well: I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved. In the place where they yelled out, “You’re nobody!” they’re calling you “God’s living children.” Isaiah maintained this same emphasis: If each grain of sand on the seashore were numbered and the sum labeled “chosen of God,” They’d be numbers still, not names; salvation comes by personal selection. God doesn’t count us; he calls us by name. Arithmetic is not his focus. Isaiah had looked ahead and spoken the truth: If our powerful God had not provided us a legacy of living children, We would have ended up like ghost towns, like Sodom and Gomorrah. How can we sum this up? All those people who didn’t seem interested in what God was doing actually embraced what God was doing as he straightened out their lives. And Israel, who seemed so interested in reading and talking about what God was doing, missed it. How could they miss it? Because instead of trusting God, they took over. They were absorbed in what they themselves were doing. They were so absorbed in their “God projects” that they didn’t notice God right in front of them, like a huge rock in the middle of the road. And so they stumbled into him and went sprawling. Isaiah (again!) gives us the metaphor for pulling this together: Careful! I’ve put a huge stone on the road to Mount Zion, a stone you can’t get around. But the stone is me! If you’re looking for me, you’ll find me on the way, not in the way.
1 Thessalonians 3:3 - Not that the troubles should come as any surprise to you. You’ve always known that we’re in for this kind of thing. It’s part of our calling. When we were with you, we made it quite clear that there was trouble ahead. And now that it’s happened, you know what it’s like. That’s why I couldn’t quit worrying; I had to know for myself how you were doing in the faith. I didn’t want the Tempter getting to you and tearing down everything we had built up together.
Acts 13:48 - When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe their good fortune. All who were marked out for real life put their trust in God—they honored God’s Word by receiving that life. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region.
Romans 11:7 - And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn’t succeed. The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The “self-interest Israel” became thick-skinned toward God. Moses and Isaiah both commented on this: Fed up with their quarrelsome, self-centered ways, God blurred their eyes and dulled their ears, Shut them in on themselves in a hall of mirrors, and they’re there to this day. David was upset about the same thing: I hope they get sick eating self-serving meals, break a leg walking their self-serving ways. I hope they go blind staring in their mirrors, get ulcers from playing at god.